New Travel Trends in Tough Economic Times

Travel trends develop in a down economy | APP.com | Asbury Park Press

Some smaller cities are stealing the glory.

Both Fort Myers, Fla., and Charleston, S.C., experienced double-digit growth in January over January 2008, based on American Express Travel bookings.

Cities such as Tucson, Ariz., Palm Springs, Calif., and Portland, Ore. are also becoming popular destinations, with Travelocity data showing increases of 12 percent, 13 percent and 38 percent over last year.

Even Philadelphia's star is rising, said Travelocity senior editor Genevieve Shaw Brown.

Brown said it's hard to pinpoint the reason for the spikes: it could be a decrease in airfare or hotel prices, excellent marketing or a larger travel trend.

For example, hotel rates in Fort Myers are down about 10 percent, she said. Fort Myers and Sanibel Island are known for beaches, wildlife viewing and history, such as the Edison & Ford Winter Estates.

But hotel rates in Portland are up, she said.

She attributes Philadelphia's popularity spike to good marketing, a decrease in airfare of 16 percent compared to the overall 8 percent decrease for domestic flights and more interest in historic destinations in general.

Some secondary cities do benefit in a down economy because people are seeking shorter trips, said Gabe Saglie, senior editor of Travelzoo. So someone in New York who wants to get away for the weekend may take a trip to Philadelphia.

He said as big cities rev up their marketing to woo travelers, smaller cities may get some of the trickle down tourism.

Technorati Tags: travel trends, travel, usa, economy

Ohio Tourism on the Up and Up

Travel | Ohio officials tout success of tourism spending as governor seeks budget increase | Seattle Times Newspaper

COLUMBUS, Ohio —

Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher said Wednesday the state's investment into promoting tourism is paying off and cites a study to back the administration's request to increase tourism funding.

Technorati Tags: ohio, tourism, travel

List of Ridiculous Complaints from Travelers

Aroused elephant tops list of bizarre holiday grievances - Telegraph

One envious holidaymaker complained that his friend’s three-bedroom apartment was “clearly bigger” than his one-bedroom place, while others could not hide their frustration that it took them nine hours to fly back to England from Jamaica when it only took the American travellers a mere three hours to get home.

Technorati Tags: tour operator, travel, complaint, holiday, vacation

Frugal Travel Trends

Mini-holidays among top travel trends for '09

Suddenly, it's fashionable to be frugal. This is just as apparent in the travel world as it is on Wall Street, Bay Street and everywhere in between. There's no shame in holding out for the best bargain. Has there ever been?

Some trends on the slightly hazy travel horizon include: frequent mini-holidays, cheaper and greener cruising, belt-tightening business travel and sustainable travel on a budget.

Most importantly, airlines, hotels and entire cities built on tourism are begging for our business, and that gives the travelling public an edge.

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The "AIG Effect" Hits Corporate Tourism

It seems luxury hotels and corporate travel services such as convention centers are experience a serious slump in business. It has been nicknamed the "AIG Effect". From Walletpop.com:

Corporate travel has plummeted, and it's not just because companies want to save money. They also want to save face.

The hotel bigwigs of Miami-Dade County are now finding it hard to lie in the bed they spent so long making. There, A-list properties are reporting that a third of their convention business has evaporated since the start of 2009.

''We've worked so long and hard to have a sophisticated and upscale destination,'' said Miami-Dade tourism director William Talbert III. ``[And now] it's being portrayed as not acceptable to meet in this kind of destination.'' To that end, the tourism lobby is launching a search to find a "Joe the Bellman" type -- an average working-class dude a la Joe the Plumber -- whom it can use to shore up public opinion of its faltering luxury-travel niche.

After AIG was caught with its hand in the cookie jar, taking lavish $500,000 spa retreats while it was begging for bailouts on Capitol Hill, luxury business trips are seen as obnoxiously gauche. They could even be bad for business, as customers are now more likely to avoid companies that are seen to be spending their funds (or worse, government funds) frivolously. The Miami Herald says hotels are getting walloped by that "AIG Effect."

Read the rest: The 'AIG Effect:' Luxury travel just isn't cool anymore

Technorati Tags: aig effect, corporate tourism, tourism, travel, miami